Not every gate opener is designed to handle heavy gates, and so, the larger and heavier your gate is, the more time and research you have to put into the process of getting a gate opener. First, you will need a heavy-duty gate opener, but that is not all.
To make the right choice, you must understand what heavy gate openers are, the features that set them apart, and where to get top-quality models. This guide will cover everything there is to know about heavy gate openers and introduce you to some models from Zumi from which you can make your choice.
What is a Heavy Gate Opener?
A "heavy" gate opener, sometimes called a “heavy-duty gate opener” is one that is specifically designed to handle larger and heavier gates. Think of the gates used at most commercial and industrial establishments: most of them are bigger and made of heavier materials like steel or iron.
Your average gate opener is not designed to handle that much weight. This is where heavy gate openers come in. These openers are built with more robust components, such as stronger motors, gears, and support structures, to manage the increased weight and size of these steel or iron gates.
Key Features That Differentiate Heavy Gate Openers
Motor Power: The heavier a gate is, the more force needed to move it. Heavy-duty openers have more powerful motors to provide the additional force needed to move heavier gates.
Durability: Heavy gate openers are often designed to withstand frequent use, harsher environmental conditions, and long-term wear.
Safety Features: Many are equipped with advanced safety features, such as slow-start and slow-stop functions, to reduce wear and tear on the mechanism and prevent accidents.
This makes them suitable for large properties, industrial facilities, and high-traffic areas that require more durable and reliable gate automation solutions.
What Qualifies as a Heavy Gate?
Generally speaking, any gate that weighs in excess of 1,000 lb. (450 kg) is considered a heavy gate. This is not a standard threshold, however, and it can vary depending on the type of gate and the industry in question.
Residential Gates
A normal residential gate weighs between 200-500 pounds, and is made from lighter material like aluminum or wood. Anything above this range is typically classified as heavy-duty (for a residential home).
Commercial and Industrial Gates
Gates in commercial or industrial settings are typically heavier and can weigh anywhere from 1,000 pounds to over 3,000 pounds. By nature, these gates are “heavy.”
Swing Gates
Swing gates are considered heavy when their weight exceeds 500 pounds per leaf. Swinging a gate from a single hinge increases the mechanical load, so even a moderately heavy gate requires stronger openers.
RECOMMENDED HEAVY GATE OPENER MODELS
One of the most important pieces of advice when it comes to buying automatic gate openers is to purchase from a supplier that is principally engaged in the production of gate openers. In other words, gate openers must be the only product they deal in or at least the most significant proportion of their business.
There is something to be said of specialty and years of expertise selling a product, and that is often what sets the best brands apart. Check out these models from Zumia.
Zumi W1 Pro Heavy Single Swing Gate Opener
What Gate Does it fit?
The W1 Pro is built for gates that weigh up to a maximum of 1,100 lbs. and measure up to 20ft. Take note that this model is a single swing gate opener, meaning that, in addition to falling within the above weight and length limits, the gate must have only one leaf. (Double-leaf equivalent coming up next)
How is it Powered?
This gate opener is an electric gate opener. Hence, it is meant to be installed in an area where a reliable source of electric power can be found or established.
Zumi’s electric gate openers can accommodate more than one source of power, so you can conveniently connect this model to a solar panel or add a special lead-ion battery from Zumi.
This may require some additional installation procedures, but you will easily have solar energy or battery power as a backup power source for your gate.
How Good is the Motor?
The W1 Pro is powered by a formidable DC motor that operates at 4600 rpm, and opens or closes the gate within 10-15 seconds. This is an impressive feat considering the overall weight of the gate.
How Durable is it?
This opener features a sleek silver finish and a sturdy design that combines beauty with durability. With an IP55 waterproof rating, not even wind, dust or rain can prevent it from offering long lasting performance.
How Secure?
Zumi uses a superior 128-bit encrypted rolling code that's nearly impossible to crack, offering security far beyond what 64-bit systems provide. This safety feature ensures your system always stays secure with real-time updates.
Zumi W2 Pro Heavy Dual Swing Gate Opener
The W2 Pro is the double-swing version of the W1 Pro. It is designed to support double-swing gates weighing up to 1,100 lbs. (500 lbs. x2) and measuring up to 20ft (combined).
The only distinction between the W1 Pro and the W2 Pro is that one is a single-swing opener, and the other is a double-swing opener. In terms of source of power, motor speed, materials and construction, security, and additional features, the two gates are practically the same.
So, depending on whether your gate is a single swing or double swing, you can make the choice between the two.
WHAT ABOUT SOLAR MODELS?
If you live in an outskirt area where electric power cannot be reliably counted upon, using an electric gate opener could not only be quite frustrating but also really unsafe.
Zumi has provided the solar equivalents of the above gate openers with exactly the same features. The Zumi WS1 Pro Solar Heavy Single Swing Gate Opener is the solar equivalent of the W1 Pro, and Zumi’s WS2 Pro Solar Heavy Dual Swing Gate Opener with Battery is the solar equivalent of the W2 Pro, which is a double swing model.
The main difference between these models is limited to the source of power. The previous W1 Pro and W2 Pro models rely on electricity as the main source of power, and any additional source (batteries or solar energy) can act as a backup. With the WS models, the main source of power is solar energy, and any additional sources of power can act as a backup.
MAKING A FINAL DECISION
Overall, there are two main criteria for choosing between these Zumi gate opener models.
- The first is the size and weight of the gate. The gate must weigh no more than 1,100 lbs.
- The second is the nature of the gate (single-swing or double-swing).
For single-swing heavy gate openers that weigh 1,100 lbs or less, you can go for the W1 Pro opener or the WS1 Pro Solar opener. For double-swing heavy gates, choose between the W2 Pro opener and the WS2 Pro solar opener.
Thirdly, you must consider the source of power. If a consistent supply of electrical power is not an issue, you can go for electric gate openers, but if not, Zumi’s solar gate openers are always available.
In any case, you are guaranteed to get a top-quality product from Zumi, and at a really affordable price.
For more useful information and interesting tips, check out more of Zumi’s blogs and explore some ideas on maintaining your gate opener.
